GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist SLASH: 'It's Really Amazing And Humbling That 'Appetite For Destruction' Has Become So Iconic'

In a new interview with the "Jim Kerr Rock & Roll Morning Show", which airs on New York's Q104.3 FM radio station, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash was asked if the massive success of the band's classic debut album, 1987's "Appetite For Destruction", is something that ever "gets in the way of how" he approaches writing new music nowadays. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No, you just write what what's in the moment and sort of what you're going through now. You don't really look at past stuff. But it's a really amazing and humbling thing that the 'Appetite' record has become so iconic. But it's not something that you really sort of look back at, especially something that's that long ago."

As for why GUNS N' ROSES chooses to open its live shows on the current tour with "Welcome To The Jungle", Slash said: "It's just a good opening song. It pretty much says it all in the first few seconds. So it works pretty well."

Slash went on to say that "there's no thought process to" how GUNS N' ROSES ends up coming up with a setlist for each show. "We just pick songs that we wanna play, and they're from all the different records," he explained. "And we don't really have what you call a set setlist either. We have an opening song, we have an ending song, and we have a lot of tentpole songs that we're gonna play, and then we mix a lot of stuff up. So we just have a list of, like, 50 songs. And we sort of pull from that."

GUNS N' ROSES officially launched the North American leg of their 2026 world tour on July 23, with an opening performance at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. The show kicked off the band's 18-date stadium, arena and amphitheater run across the United States and Canada this summer.

Following performances across Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France and the U.K., GUNS N' ROSES have once again proven why they remain one of the most dynamic and ferocious live bands on the planet.

The North American run follows a landmark period for the band, including the release of two new singles, "Nothin'" and "Atlas", via Geffen Records — their first new music since 2023 — as well as the acclaimed deluxe reissue of "Live Era '87-'93", featuring newly remastered audio and updated artwork. Together, the new releases continue to expand the band's legendary catalog while complementing the classic songs that have defined generations of rock fans.

Produced by Live Nation, the North American tour continues through September 19 with stops at iconic venues including MetLife Stadium, Allegiant Stadium, BC Place, Globe Life Field, Snapdragon Stadium, Busch Stadium, and a historic return to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena — the band's first performance at the legendary venue in more than 30 years.

Limited tickets remain for select dates at gunsnroses.com, with a variety of VIP packages and fan experiences available through VIP Nation, including premium tickets, the pre-show VIP Lounge, exclusive merchandise, behind-the-scenes tour opportunities, and more.

GUNS N' ROSES have steadily been releasing new material in recent years in conjunction with their sold-out tours across the globe. Following 2023's "The General" and "Perhaps", "Atlas" and "Nothin'" join as vital additions to setlists otherwise featuring all the classic hits and deep cut fan favorites from GN'R's early catalog.

Embedded in popular culture, GUNS N' ROSES' landmark diamond-selling 1987 opus "Appetite For Destruction" stands out as "the best-selling U.S. debut album ever" and "the 11th best-selling U.S. album of all time." Following its release, GUNS N' ROSES shook the world with the one-two punch of the over seven-times-platinum "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II", clinching the top two spots on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart upon arrival. With total sales of 100 million units thus far, their catalog also consists of "GN'R Lies" (five times platinum),"The Spaghetti Incident?" (platinum),"Greatest Hits" (five times platinum),and "Chinese Democracy" (over six million worldwide). Not to mention, they are one of the most-streamed rock bands in the world with an average of 27 million monthly listeners on Spotify and in May 2024 were inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame for their 1987 debut album, "Appetite For Destruction".

On the touring front, GUNS N' ROSES' legendary three-hour-plus shows encompass sought-after fan favorites in addition to newly dusted-off gems from their back catalog, leaving ardent audiences in awe. Their blockbuster 2024 world tour sold 1.3 million tickets around the world and marked the band's largest run to date. Consisting of acclaimed performances in stadiums and arenas alike, the tour included headlining festival dates at Glastonbury and London's Hyde Park, while the North American leg included sold-out performances at historic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, as well as a co-headlining performance at Power Trip in Indio, California with AC/DC and METALLICA. GUNS N' ROSES' previous world tour, "Not In This Lifetime…", notably ranked as the "fourth-highest grossing concert tour of all time", selling more than five million tickets and included a headline performance at Coachella. The band's massive 2025 tour saw the powerhouse band hit stadiums and arenas in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America throughout the year.

GUNS N' ROSES are Axl Rose (vocals, keyboards),Duff McKagan (bass),Slash (lead guitar),Dizzy Reed (keyboard),Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar),Isaac Carpenter (drums) and Melissa Reese (keyboard).